Secrets of the Cinque Terre: Updated 2023

The Cinque Terre is one of the most famous and most beautiful coasts in all of Italy. Over the years Maria and I have discovered many of its secrets. On this page we share those secrets.

"Join us in discovering the Cinque Terre, Italy at its most seductive!"

Best Place to Stay on the Cinque Terre Coast?

Base yourself in Levanto; Levanto is a vibrant, charming little town and the train runs up and down all day from Levanto to all the Cinque Terre towns - taking only a few minutes between each of them.  

In Levanto itself, try to stay at the Oasi Hotel (if you can get in) or the Villa Valentina;  the prices, both for hotels and restaurants, are way better in Levanto than on the rest of the Cinque Terre coast. In Levanto you get far friendlier service too as people aren't so overwhelmed by tourists.

Nearly forgot, you've one of the loveliest cycle routes in Italy on your doorstep - here are the details.

Prefer accommodation in the Cinque Terre itself? Not much to choose from, most is horrible and horribly over-priced. A good option though is L’Ancora in Riomaggiore.

More expensive, yet wonderful, is the Porto Roca near Monterosso. The photo below is of the hotel's gorgeous swimming pool.

When to Visit the Cinque Terre

Try to plan your visit for May, June or September to avoid the crowds.

In July and August the charming atmosphere of these delightful hill towns is completely overshadowed by the swarming tourist masses. This is the case not only on the Cinque Terre, Italy anywhere is invariably lovelier outside of July and August.

Cinque Terre Italy Weather (click for our detailed weather guide)

This part of the Ligurian coast is blessed with a very mild climate and the coast’s winter temperatures average around nine degrees celsius.

In fact visiting the Cinque Terre during winter is not a bad idea at all.

Hardly any tourists visit the Cinque Terre during this time and you really get to experience the atmosphere of the towns.

Take the time to wonder the twisting lanes and join in the gossip in the piazzas, even if you don’t understand much the passion for life of the local folk is very catching.

We've even spent Christmas in the Cinque Terre and enjoyed it immensely - although everything is completely different to summer it is still a wonderful and unforgettable experience.

Summers are hot and dry but not humid and on most days welcome sea breezes cool things down a little.

Getting Around the Cinque Terre

Get yourself the Cinque Terre Card Treno. It costs around 19 Euros for a One Day Train Card - which allows you unlimited travel between all of the Cinque Terre towns, plus Levanto and La Spezia. The pass also includes free access to those walks where an entrance fee is required - these are the Monterosso to Vernazza path and the Vernazza to Corniglia one.

Buses are also included in the ticket - very useful in the town of Corniglia where it will save you having to walk the 400 steps up to the town from the station. Simply walk out of the station and the bus stop to Corniglia is right there.

Cinque Terre Beaches

The Cinque Terre beaches are mostly stony affairs, Monterosso has the best beach but the pay sections are rather expensive and the free bit is not the greatest. Rather spend time on Northern Italy’s most famous surf beach in nearby Levanto. For more on Levanto's beaches, and other gorgeous beaches in Liguria, click here.

The Sights of the Cinque Terre Italy

Nearly all the towns of the Cinque Terre have a few buildings of historical importance. The most significant of these are:

1) Church of San Giovanni Battista in Monterosso and a church of the same name in Riomaggiore.

2) The remains of the sixteenth century castle that dominates Vernazza.

3) Church of Saint Margaret of Antioch in Vernazza dating back back to the thirteenth century.

4) The fourteenth century Church of Saint Pietro in Corniglia.

5) Manarola’s fourteenth century Church of San Lorenzo (Saint Lawrence).

Via dell'Amore and other Walks

Most famous is the Via dell’Amore between Riomaggiore and Manarola, this is an easy thirty minute walk along a paved path.

The Via dell'Amore is the place to go for a romantic time in Italy.

Maria and I always feel like we are on honeymoon again as we stroll along.

Watch the sunset from here and before you know it you'll be singing each other Italian love songs.

Famous and romantic the Via dell’Amore may be but the walks between the other towns are far lovelier. In fact you'll probably need to choose one of the others because the Via dell'Amore has been closed for ages and doesn't look like opening any time soon :( 

For more details on all the walks click here.

Walked between all the towns and still have energy to burn?

Then climb the hills behind the towns. One of the best is the one to the ruins of the sixteenth century tower behind Corniglia - great exercise and, if you make it, the views are spectacular.

The Five Villages

Monterosso al Mare

Monterosso has the best Cinque Terre beach but it's a crowded place and you would be much better off on the beach of nearby Levanto.

For the rest Monterosso is the biggest of the Cinque Terre towns and although a lovely place it's overshadowed by the other four towns. 

It's a great place though to start a boat trip along the coast.

Vernazza

A lot of people consider this to be the best Cinque Terre village and it's a wonderful little place indeed. In my view it is the second best town after Manarola but really there is not much to choose between them. The old fort, colorful jumbled houses and the little harbor are particular highlights.

Make sure you enjoy the view of Vernazza from the surrounding hills, it has to be one of the most beautiful views in all of Italy.

Corniglia

A little away from the coast, and traditionally more focused on farming (olives and vineyards) than fishing and because of this Corniglia is a little different in atmosphere and architecture to the other towns of the Cinque Terre.

Manarola

I really love Manarola immensely, the multi-hued houses tumble down to the little fishermans cove, many seemingly ready to roll off down into the turquoise sea below.

Framing it all are the terraced hillsides full of olive groves and vineyards and if you come in spring or summer there'll be flowers everywhere too.

After Corniglia this is the second smallest town yet in my view it is the loveliest.

Riomaggiore

Most western of the towns Riomaggiore is as unforgettable as the rest of the Cinque Terre.

The vineyards around town produce a white wine called Cinque Terre and more famously a Passito wine called Sciacchetrà.

Unfortunately over the last twenty years many have abandoned the vineyards, attracted by the lure of easy money from tourism. Many vineyards around Riomaggiore and the other towns of the Cinque Terre are now in a sad state of neglect so make sure you get to try a few bottles before these varieties disappear!

If you would like to base yourself in Riomaggiore then the L’Ancora is reasonably priced by Cinque Terre standards and offers decent clean accommodation.

Time Needed for the Cinque Terre

Most visitors will not only visit the Cinque Terre, Italy has hundreds of other great places to visit. Don’t make the mistake though of visiting for too shorter time, a day really is not enough.

Personally I would suggest a minimum of two days but three days if you have the time, perhaps one day spent running up and down the Cinque Terre on the train from Levanto, followed by a day walking between the towns and then the last day at leisure or enjoying a boat trip.

Map

Need a map of the Cinque Terre Italy and Levanto? Here is our personalised Cinque Terre Map!

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